High Tide: May 4, 2018

HT

Redondo Union High School Redondo Beach, CA May 4, 2018 Vol. XCVIII Edition 13

High Tide

Introducing the newly elected cabinet members for the 2018-2019 school year

back cover

Life

RAFTS

School counselor and school psychologist provide recources for distraught students, especially those who are suicidal

by Martha Farah

With suicide being the second leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, suicide rates have risen by 24 percent from 1999 to 2014, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Many students are dealing with internal and external pressures, increasing the amount of stress they put on themselves according to school counselor, Tiffany Straight.

“There’s this pressure for perfection as if you’re not going to have stumbles or hiccups,” Straight said. “It’s unrealistic to expect that you’re going to go through four years of high school without some hiccups.

Sometimes our students have hiccups they get stuck and really overwhelmed.”

With students being overwhelmed and stressed, some begin to look at suicide as an option.

Through the risk assessments done by the school psychologists and counselors at RUHS, students reveal a lack of social engagement, grades dropping and a disinterest in activities they were once interested in when dealing with depression or suicidal thoughts.

School psychologist, Holly Hunt believes that it is helpful to encourage people to talk to someone about it.

“I think everybody kind of has a trusted adult, who doesn’t necessarily have to be your parent. Maybe it’s someone in your youth group, a coach on a team, your counselor or a teacher that you really like,” Hunt said. “Just reminding everyone to reach out [is important] because there is somebody out there that wants to listen and help.”

Stress and anxiety usually come up when people are feeling down about themselves according to Hunt, making coping skills necessary.

“When people have good coping skills, I think that that is helpful,” Hunt said. “Things like listening to music, exercise and things like that which we typically do does help. [We have to] make sure that we’re doing these things to take care of our mental health as well as our physical health.”

ILLUSTRATION BY SHEYANNE FRANKLIN

[story continues on page 10]

NEWS

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tudents in Redondo Unified School District have experienced stack schedule, which is all classes in one day, and block schedule, which is three classes a day for a longer period of time. Although these are the most common types of schedules for high schools, there are a variety of others.

In block schedule, students spend more time with their teachers each day, which Dargen believes lets students better get involved during class.

“It creates more opportunities to spend time collaborating and doing student-centered instruction, so there’s less telling and more engagement.” Dargen said.

English teacher Angie Yi has taught for seven years with block schedule at RUHS and has taught with stack schedules before that.

Yi believes that stack schedule is beneficial in that it allows students to practice their skills daily.

“I feel more organized, and I like the immediate turnaround of the kids coming back and moving forward with what we finished the day before,” Yi said. “There also isn’t as much prepping that I need to do before class because the students would have just had me the day before.”

As an English teacher, Yi does not feel as though she needs block schedule like other teachers claim to.

“I’m aware that some teachers prefer the block, like for labs, and I completely respect that,” Yi said. “I feel like I have more room to be creative with my lessons and transitioning between creative activities

to direct instruction, which is pretty easy to do in English. I didn’t necessarily need anything to change but I did enjoy having the traditional schedule when I had it.”

Different scheduling formats

A different, non-traditional format of scheduling is the 4 by 4, where each school day has four periods, but students typically only take four classes per semester. However, there are some classes, like APs, languages and PE that go all year.

Benefits of this type of schedule are that students can retake courses that they failed in the next semester, take more classes they are interested in and earn more credits.

Additionally, teachers have longer and more prep periods, which decreases their work and planning. Since teachers have six classes, there does not need to be as many teachers at school as opposed to other schedules where teachers have five classes at most.

“I’ve heard of it but I’ve never been a part of it. It sounds fine and I’m sure it’s good for students who want to take more classes,” Yi said. “However, I think that especially in high school, kids need more time to practice their skills so I think that a half a year might be too short.”

Another type of an eight-class schedule is that used by Newport Harbor High School, which is basically stacked schedule but with eight classes. Ferron believes that there would not be an adequate amount of time for eight classes a year.

The two high schools in Palos Verdes

Stack Scheduling Mon

Tues

Mon

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4 5 6

Six periods, one hour, everyday

both have different schedules. Palos Verdes High School uses block schedule and Peninsula Palos Verdes High School uses stacked.

“A lot of the positives of block scheduling were about managing time. There is more flexibility, less stress and less homework pressure on students,” Assistant Principal Bill Dargen said.

Pros and cons of block

Sophomore Grace Clendenin likes block schedule because she believes that it makes school easier and less stressful for students and teachers. She also has not really heard any complaints about block.

“It helps me better manage my time in terms of doing homework and more time to ask my teachers questions,” Clendenin said. “I also like how I only have three classes so I don’t have to pack as much, and it also gives the teacher more time to do interesting activities.”

For Clendenin, the transition from middle school’s stack schedule to block schedule was not difficult.

“It was weird at first but because in middle school they gave us a few block days during the year it wasn’t a huge shock to me.” Clendenin said. “I got used to it quickly and now I really like it because of the freedom it gives me to better manage my time.”

AP European History teacher Julie Ferron believes that block schedule is considerably better for Advanced Placement classes than stack schedule.

“It allows us to give tests that are more accurate and more like the tests they’ll

Block Scheduling Mon

1 2 3 4 5 6

Tues

Wed

2

1

4

3

6

5

Six periods, one hour on monday Three periods, two hours, Tues and Thur Other three periods, two hours, Wed and Fri

have on the real AP exam, whereas 50 minute class periods did not allow that at all.”

Ferron said.

The process of introducing different schedules began in spring of 1996 when a group of teachers from every major department formed a committee called the Block Schedule Task Force and moved to try it out.

“We felt like as soon as you were getting into a lesson the bell rang and we didn’t have time to do long lessons, good lab work, effective tests for AP classes and different teaching activities.” Ferron said.

Additionally, Ferron and the other teachers believed that block schedule would make transitioning into using more technology easier.

“We were just starting to introduce technology at the time and we thought it would give us some more time for these new teaching strategies, engaging students and going into the curriculum more thoroughly.” Ferron said.

With block schedule at RUHS, teachers like that they can fit more into a class.

“In stacked scheduling, there have been times where I felt like I had to finish something really quickly before the bell rang, but in a block schedule, if I see that a certain group of students are falling behind then it’s easier for me to slow it down for everyone,” Yi said. “I do like that I can fit in more within that class period and I think that the kids like only having three classes a day so that they feel less stressed. A minor drawback of block would be just not seeing them every day to reinforce skills.”

4x4 Scheduling

Semester 1

Four periods, everday for one semester.

Another four periods, everday for the next semester Semester 2

Mon

Tues

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

Mon

Tues

5 6 7 8

5 6 7 8

NEWS

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

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Sigalert. Students commute to their classes during a Monday passing period. The walkway connecting the student union to the science building is significantly more crowded on Mondays because there are six passing periods, as opposed to three on a normal block day. PHOTO AND ILLLUSTRATION BY BEN BRILL

Ongoing construction disrupts nearby classrooms and traffic

by Lorraina Scolaro Annoying, frustrating and stressful is how students and teachers in nearby classrooms describe the ongoing construction near the 700 buildings.

“I’m really annoyed with it. I know we need the classes but I wish there was a more effective way to do it. I can’t hear the teacher sometimes, and she’ll try to open the door but then it just gets way to loud,” sophomore Tatum Davis said, who has English in room 704 which is adjacent to the construction.

Beginning in early November, the construction of the new classrooms has been interrupting class time for about six months and isn’t scheduled to end until June, according to Principal Jens Brandt

Noise

English teacher, Angie Yi, teaches right next to the construction. She is excited for the new classrooms, but often sees her students getting distracted by the constant construction noises.

“To get the students reengaged multiple times throughout the class period is probably the hardest part,” Yi said. “The biggest [distraction] is when we’re having a group discussion or I’m giving a lecture and they will hear typical construction noise so I immediately see my students distracted.”

Sophomore Ryder Phillips, is agitated by the construction. He describes it as “annoying,” and “angering” as it disrupts lessons.

“It interrupts class and the loud noises interrupt your thought process,” Phillips said, “It makes it so we have to move to different classrooms sometimes and it’s not the same environment. It’s really annoying.”

English teacher, Kerri Eastham, who also teaches near the construction, notices her students losing focus as well, and often moves to different classrooms around campus on important test or exam days to help limit the students distraction. This does add extra stress to her however, as she finds herself forgetting certain supplies necessary to her lessons. In short; she’s tired of moving from class to class.

“It’s hard on me from an organizational standpoint to go to a different room every class because I need books for one, and I need markers for another,” Eastham said, “I’m tired of traveling. I don’t want to travel any more.”

Congestion

Adding to the annoyance, Phillips and Davis often find themselves stuck in the bustling traffic of the only available walkway due to the construction.

“How it obstructs the walkway is crazy annoying because it makes getting to classes extremely hard since it’s super packed and jammed,” Phillips said.

To get around this, Phillips along with Davis and many other students, “hop the

little fence” that separates the upper pathway from the lower. Both recognize hopping the fence may not be allowed or recommended, but as of now it is their best and only option to make it to class on time.

Cost worth the product

Both students and teachers recognize that the construction is necessary for Redondo, and believe it is for the best.

“I understand that it has to happen. Nobody’s doing anything wrong. We’re growing and we’ve got to accommodate that,” Eastham said, “The noise, while it’s an inconvenience, there’s no getting around it.”

The only way to get around the noise is to move classes. However, Eastham and Yi are thankful to the rest of the staff for being so understanding and open to sharing their classrooms.

This cooperation and understanding is not only found between staff, but the construction company as well, according to Brandt. He and the crew continue to have weekly meetings discussing the project’s progress, ways to limit noise and days when it is recommended teachers transfer classes. Brandt believes this communication is the main contributor to the success and smoothness of the project.

Yi having been part of the communication, agrees with Brandt.

“Administrtion has been really great about passing that [information] on to us.

Map of construction effects

o

pe np

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Construction

ly On

Rooms 704, 705, and 706 are located next to the construction. Frequent noise often pompts the teachers to find different classrooms to use.

ed

ath wa y

p

a th wa y

They’ve sent out emails to see how we’re doing, asking other teachers if we can use their rooms. They’ve done as much as they can do.”

Brandt praises admin strationand students for being so understanding.

“I had initial conversations with them [teachers] before the construction started to just give them a heads up that there would be times it would get noisy, and they’ve been incredibly patient and flexible,” Brandt said. “I really appreciate the rest of our staff as well for being so accommodating. They’ve been wonderful.”

The new classrooms will be “21st century classrooms,” with “technology, furniture and equipment necessary for students and teachers to engage in lively learning,” according to Brandt.

“We’re looking forward to having the classrooms. We’re working on who’s going to be in there, and we’re getting some new, collaborative furniture to put in there.

We’re excited about that,” Brandt said.

In the end, students and staff see the construction as a necessary evil. While it is very stressful and annoying with the noise, it is something that needs to be done.

“I think it’s one of those things where at the end of the day, there’s not much we can do about it because we do need more classrooms,” Yi said, “It’s not like there’s any other option. We just need to deal with it for the next few months.”

NEWS

2 Stats on stem Quotes collected by Angie Tait

Demographics in STEM classes show a disparity between male and female representation. Statistics show that few females are in engineering and physics classes; however, female students do hold the majority in several other science classes.

Classes taught by Matthew Keye: Digital Electronics: 18 boys, 8 girls AP Physics: 29 boys, 16 girls CP Physics: 36 boys, 20 girls Dug in. Juniors Grace Yagi, Reese Bradley, Ethan Endicott, Justin Pioletti and senior Hayden Owens prepare to shovel a hole and plant native plants at Wilderness Park. PHOTO COURTESY OF GILLIAN MOBERG

Forging a path ahead AP Environmental Science students volunteer to restore Wilderness Park

By Angie Tait AP Environmental Science students took part in an extra credit opportunity at Hopkins Wilderness Park, Redondo Beach on Saturday, April 22. Working alongside a group of students from Parras Middle School, APES teacher Gillian Moberg led the RUHS students in the first of many activities meant to “revitalize” the park.

The movement to assist the park comes partially from Redondo Beach’s ranking as “park poor,” based on data gathered by the California Department of Public Health.

The city earns this label based on its ratio of 1.3 acres per every 1,000 residents; this means that the 11-acre Wilderness Park represents public park space for approximately 8,462 Redondo Beach residents.

“To be honest, sometimes we learn so much about negative impacts that you need a positive impact just to feel like these problems do have solutions, even just on a local level,” Moberg said.

The volunteers spent three hours digging up the soil, removing non-native grasses and trees “deliberately placed for shade and fodder,” according to Moberg.

Overall, the students planted 55 shrubs and baby trees along the park’s man-made stream.

Wilderness Park’s website states that “the garden is comprised of drought-tolerant plants that are native to our region in order to educate the community about native plants and California-friendly demonstration gardens.”

One of the later goals for the students is to redesign the lower pond of the park, which has been completely dried up. As part of this initiative, juniors Justin Pioletti and Claire Haddad, along with the school’s ECO Club, were chosen to “adopt” the pond in order to recommend future action.

“I grew up going to Wilderness Park; every July through elementary and middle school, my mom would drop us off for a four-week camp. I always had so much fun there, so seeing the pond in disrepair was really sad to me,” Haddad said.

Haddad’s team will be working with the South Bay Parkland Conservancy and Eagle Scout Tucker Merritt, junior, and have five-year and ten-year plans that

they will propose to City Council.

“Wilderness Park is just a hot mess right now, so we’re just going to do little things to revamp it. Our team will be working until April 2019, and it’s mainly just us being the communications in the project,” Haddad said.

In the meantime, all of the APES classes are scheduled to return to the park through the end of the 2017-18 school year to conduct more research. The students will begin with a “bioblitz”, meaning they will record all of the species in Wilderness Park over a set period of time.

While the students will be focused on assisting the park in the years to come, Moberg also insists that making a “positive impact” in the community is easier than people may think.

“Sustainability is something that you can actually incorporate in your life with very little inconvenience. Certainly being part of a sustainable movement has more benefits than just being environmentally-friendly,” Moberg said. “It impacts your own community, your own backyard.”

“I don’t know why that has historically happened, but we’ve been trying to get more girls interested in some of the sciences,” Keye said.

“For example, Mr. Middler has a club focused on girls learning to code, and then we’ve also had outreaches to middle schools trying to show girls there that they shouldn’t shy away from these readily available classes.

I’m just trying to show other incoming females to the school that girls take these classes.”

Classes taught by Ann Bhare: Honors Biology: 26 boys, 28 girls Principles of Biomed: 21 boys, 32 girls Medical Interventions: 8 boys, 23 girls

“The statistics follow the national trend that women are going into medicine, while men are staying in engineering,” Bhare said. “It would be nice if the school would work to expose girls to engineering at an earlier age, because they do the more engineering-based PLTW (Project Lead the Way) classes at the middle school, so if they could try and recruit a substantial number of girls there, it would transfer into high school.”

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARGARET WEDAA

Slumping out of senior year

RUHS students and staff speak on senioritis: its prevelance, effects, and how to avoid it

Quotes collected by Danny Parhizi and Zack Paulson

SENIORITIS:

Senioritis, also known as “senior slump,” is when seniors begin to slack off, often times after being accepted into the college of their choice.

However, colleges reserve the right to revoke admissions from admitted students for reasons such as bad second semester grades.

The first semester GPA average for seniors was 3.49 (females) and 3.17 (males). In comparison, the RUHS average was 3.37 (females) and 3.11 (males).

However, the third quarter saw a drop in senior GPA averages, which fell down to 3.27 (females) and 2.87 (males).

Administration uses the No-Go List for prom and senior excursion to combat senioritis. While Assistant Principal Meghan Schooler admits that the list is “not a popular thing to have,” she believes that it is necessary for incentivizing students who were on it first semester to “get off it by improving grades and attendance.”

“I think for the most part all of the staff here is concerned, because students here have put in three and a half years of really solid effort to get where they are at this time, but it becomes really hard at the end of senior year where there are so many distractions. Students can have the mindset that they are so close and that they can just let their grades coast but some schools have requirements all throughout high school such as GPA and grades.”

Meghan Schooler, Assistant Prinicpal

“I think it’s a little bit of the fear of realising that you’re going to be out of your comfort level, and this is really the last time that you’re really going to be looked after, as carefully as you are in a high school setting. You’re not going to have a teacher like me in college that’s going to call you out. It’s not that I’m so special, it’s the nature of the beast.”

Shaun Lloyd, teacher of English 12 - Heroes and Villains

“Once I got my acceptance letters, I told myself that I’m done with high school and all I need is the diploma. Also, I’ve just heard from everyone the second semester of senior year is not as important.”

Ian Campbell, senior

“I have stayed really motivated all throughout high school because that’s the kind of person I am. I always like to put my best effort in whatever task I am trying to accomplish. I do have some friends that try to pressure me to take school less seriously, but I just close off all the noise and do what I think benefits me.”

David Ramos, senior PHOTOS BY EDEN MILLAN

NEWS

MAY 5, 2017 | HIGH TIDE

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Golden voices, golden prize

Advanced Choir wins gold at the Worldstrides Heritage Choral Festival

By Martha Farah Advanced Choir attended the Worldstrides Heritage Choral Festival in San Francisco on April 12-15, winning gold in the 3A Chamber Choir category. The schools were divided into groups according to the number of participants.

“After winning, it was such a wonderful feeling because we worked really hard and we really deserved it,” senior Meagan Cooley said. “When they called our name to get our plaque, we were just in awe of how great it was. I knew we could do it and it just confirmed my hopes.”

Because of their high scores, choir is invited to the Festival of Gold and the National HonChoir FestiChoir teacher or val at Carnegie Kelly Self Hall next year where they will compete against other top rated choirs from across the globe.

The overall sound was affected since many students were not able to attend due to different schedules.

“I think the treble voices in the group were a bit more timid than normal because there weren’t as many voices adding to the overall sound, so I was a little worried about that,” choir teacher, Kelly Self said.

“However, from this experience, I think they realized that they all can be leaders, and even if students are missing they are still an amazing group.”

Everyone’s hard work together made the festival a “great” experience, according to Cooley.

“We’ve been working for so long and hard, so going to this was just incredible,” Cooley said. “Seeing all these other choirs as well, who have also worked really hard with totally different experiences really

“I think they realized that they can all be leaders.”

—

put things into perspective. It was the first time we have been able to compare how we sound to other choirs.”

On their first day, the students received a personal workshop session led by the choir director at Chabot College.

“He gave amazing feedback to my students, and we all learned a lot from his suggestions,” Self said. “Immediately after this workshop, we performed our festival set in front of three judges.”

The students were graded based on their general effect, which includes their tone, balance, blend and rhythm.

Senior Marvin Ronia believes that without Self, they would not have earned the gold.

“With her pushing for us to make the tiniest adjustments to make our sound that much better and her constant support through the learning process, we were definitely more than prepared to take the gold home with us, regardless if there had been times where things looked a little shaky,” Ronia said.

From this experience, Cooley has learned to work hard while having fun at the same time.

“We can’t push ourselves like crazy because we’re going to crack,” Cooley said.

“We need to —Meghan Cooley, have fun with it and know senior that we have worked really hard, and it will pay off.”

Participating in the festival gave Ronia an “amazing” feeling, instilling him with confidence and “strengthening” the bonds with his friends.

“Not only was I able to come back from San Francisco a better and more confident

1.

Singing their hearts out. 1. The Advanced Choir group performs at the Worldstrides Heritage Choral Festival in San Francisco. They won gold in the 3A Chamber Choir category, performing “Seal Lullaby” by Eric Whitacre, “Down by the Riverside,” a traditional piece and “Locus Iste,” a piece from the Romantic era by Anton Bruckner. 2. From left to right: Seniors Megan Cooley and Ryan Moran hold up the choir’s gold award.

The choir members voiced their thanks for choir teacher Kelly Self. “With her pushing for us to make the tiniest adjustments to make our sound that much better and her constant support through the learning process, we were definitely more than prepared to take the gold home with us,” senior Marvin Ronia said.

“We can’t push ourselves like crazy because we’re going to crack.”

2. singer than I had ever been, but I was also given the opportunity to become even greater friends with those who were on the trip with me,” Ronia said.

Auditions for 2018-2019 advanced chorus are May 7th-11th. Self believes students should join because of the experience they

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLY SELF

would gain along with the new relationships they would develop.

“Some reasons people should join advanced chorus is to travel, improve your singing and music reading abilities, make new friends, build confidence and perform music in a variety of styles,” Self said.

Sabor de Salsa manages and competes in dance showcase

By Grace McGonigle The Sabor de Salsa team managed and competed in the Sabor Latino Dance Competition and Showcase, a display of World and Latin style dances, held in the RUHS auditorium on April 21-22.

RUHS’ team competed in the High School Latin Large, Latin Small, Duet, and Solo categories, and won a 2nd and 3rd place trophy in Latin Large, 3rd in Latin Small, and 2nd place for the Duet.

“It was really rewarding.

It showed how much students can do against professional

“It’s stressful, but rewarding. The entire competition depends on us as a team, so we have to hope that everyone is doing their jobs correctly.”

teams with hard work. We are a student run club and were —Sabor de Salsa able to place against people Vice President who get paid Alex Castillo to choreograph these routines, so it feels good,” Sabor de Salsa President Karim Saraipour, senior, said.

Dancing and competing As they have done for the past several years of this competition, Sabor de Salsa managed the event. They were in charge of everything from preparing the groups slated to perform to picking up trash.

“It’s stressful, but rewarding. The entire competition depends on us as a team, so we have to hope that everyone is doing

their jobs correctly. However, it was rewarding because we got to compete. We got a chance to spread the culture of Latin dance,” Sabor de Salsa Vice President Alex Castillo, junior, said.

“Intimidating” competition

Because of their role in running the competition, the team was not able to rehearse their routines on the day they performed.

“That day we had no time to prepare. It was stressful and we were focused on getting our jobs done. We wanted to do a good job, so we didn’t have time to practice like all the other teams did. I think if we actually got time to prepare, we would’ve done a lot better,” Saraipour said.

Their inability to practice beforehand, combined with the fact that the other groups had professional choreographers, provided a “greater challenge” for the student-run club.

“I think it’s very intimidating. Some of those teams are really, really good, but at the end of the day we’re all kids here and we’re just trying to have fun,” Saraipour said.

In spite of the “difficult” competition, Castillo enjoyed the event more than other performances of the 2018 season because it was a competition instead of a showcase.

“Compared to other performances, this one is definitely more fun because of the competitive aspect. The fact that you can win a trophy for your dance and that you are going against other people that are also trying their hardest, is really fun,” Castillo said.

Sabor de Salsa also brought something to the competition the professional studios

did not have: a more contemporary adaptation of the classic styles of dance.

“When you look at all these dance companies they create very advanced moves, but I’ve seen them before. They’re not as original as you’d think they would be. What my co-president and I try to do is make dances that are a little more different and more entertaining to watch,” Saraipour said.

The fact that most of the performers were Latino made the competition not just a showcase of dancing, but also one of culture. “ W h i l e working the c o m p e t i t i o n —Sabor de Salsa was stressful, President Karim the environSaraipour ment outside and in the audience was very joyful and happy. There was definitely some sense of community in the fact that it was mostly Latino people there, and we were all there doing something related to the culture,” Castillo said.

Both Castillo and Saraipour love performing and the “adrenaline rush” they get from it.

“Performing is a completely different story than just running things through.

Whenever I’m performing, I just try to have the most fun possible because at the end of the day, this is what I created every-

“I think it’s very

intimidating.

Some of those teams are really, really good, but at the end of the day we’re all kids here and we’re just trying to have fun”

thing to do: to have fun,” Saraipour said.

The competition also provided a “unique” bonding experience for Sabor de Salsa.

“We bond a lot over learning the same routine,” Castillo said. “We struggle together, we work together, and we succeed together. It’s something that brings us together, it’s a love that we all have. Everything’s about us together. We’re a team.”

Sabor Latino Dance Competition and Showcase: at a glance Sabor de Salsa both managed and competed at the Sabor Latino Dance Competition and Showcase, which was held in the RUHS auditorium on April 21-22.

The even was a display of World and Latin style dances.

The management of the competition took practice time away from the team. And while the student-run club competed against dancers with professional choreographers, they were able to place 2nd and 3rd in the Latin Large, 3rd in Latin Small, and 2nd place for the Duet category.

For more information on the event, visit saborlatino1.org

6

OPINION

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Editorial

Trump should consider allowing more refugees in the US Surprise, Surprise — Syria is back at war again just days after the United States, the United Kingdom and France carried out missile strikes on Syrian chemical weapons facilities. This ineffective intimidation tactic intended to scare Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, only left more Syrian people displaced and living in fear. In order to effectively help Syrians, the U.S. should allow more refugees to emigrate instead of bombing the country to shambles.

Punitive military campaigns much like this one have failed to deter U.S. adversaries in the past, including Al-Qaeda. In 1998, the U.S. used a combination of cruise missiles and bombs against Al-Qaeda, and three years later, arguably one of the most devastating tragedies in American history occurred: the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.

This is only one of several examples.

Especially given our previous track record, the expectation that these attacks would somehow help to ameliorate the crisis is naive.

About four million Syrian refugees

More than 5.6 million Syrians have emigrated.

The US dropped

12,192 bombs

on Syria in 2016.

In the first five years of the war, about 400,000 Syrians were killed.

6.1 million people are displaced internally.

have resettled in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. The vast majority of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries live in urban areas, with only eight percent accommodated by refugee camps, according the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

For example, in Lebanon, refugees have little or no financial resources — around 70% live below the national poverty line, and on top of this, there are no formal refugee camps. Similarly, it is estimated that 93 percent of refugees in Jordan live below the poverty line, although Jordan does have the camps of Za’atari and Azraq.

The US, however, has only accepted about 20,000 refugees since the beginning of the Syrian conflict. However, with a population of 320 million and the world’s largest economy, we can resettle more.

To be fair, President Trump did mention creating a “big beautiful safe zone” for Syrian refugees. And after that, we can all sing kumbaya around the campfire because that’s completely realistic.

Establishing safe zones in Syria would require protection by ground forces and the imposition of a no-fly zone, both of which requires comprehensive planning and substantial resources.

It would be much more beneficial to allow more Syrian refugees into the United States where resources would be accessible, and there would be no threat of a chemical weapon attack.

Contrary to popular belief, it is highly unlikely that a refugee is linked to terrorism. More Americans were killed by rightwing extremists than Islamic terrorists between 2001 and 2015, according to a study by New America. In addition, not one person from the seven countries targeted by the travel ban has killed anyone in a terrorist attack in the United States in 40 years, according to a 2016 study conducted by the CATO Institute. It is clear that the prejudice towards refugees is not in the name of national security but in the name of bigotry.

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIE FLEMING AND INFORMATION COMPILED FROM CNN AND THE INDEPENDENT

Our view

Instead of dropping bombs on Syria and displacing millions of Syrians, the United States should allow more Syrian refugees to emigrate into the country as well as ending punitive military campaigns.

Editorial

The Redondo Beach Pier should not undergo large scale redevelopment and boardwalk are in need of some retooling but not large scale redevelopment or rebuilding.

CenterCal wants to “revitalize” the pier area. The problem with their method of revitalization is that they would be overhauling the pier and boardwalk into a completely new area, resembling more of a coastal mall rather than a local pier and boardwalk. The Waterfront plan is more of a rebuilding rather than a revitalization.

However, the pier and boardwalk’s infrastructure as it is now is crumbling.

Restaurants and shops are tucked away under rundown wooden planks. There is no pull to attract customers, nothing attractive to bring revenue to businesses or the city.

The Waterfront re development would have added new high-end retail and dining along the boardA work in progress. The rendering of the revitalized pier proposed by Centerwalk, a movie theCal. This project will increase the amount of commercial development to promote atre, park space for more businesses. PHOTO COURTESY CENTERCAL concerts and pubThe question of what will become of the Redondo Beach waterfront has developed into a hot-topic issue within the city that no one seems to fully agree on.

Controversy has risen since the California Coastal Commission will make a final decision regarding the fate of CenterCal’s “The Waterfront” project this summer.

The debate seems to be split between upscaling to a much larger and commercial open-air mall, or keeping the design essentially the same for years to come. The pier

Our view

lic events and a 121 room boutique hotel.

No one seems to consider a certain medium between these two extremes: the development of the area around the pier into an area with small shops and restaurants, as well as open spaces and parks not all too different from the beach scene we see in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa.

Updating Redondo Beach’s pier and boardwalk area into a promenade with modernized infrastructure and providing new real estate for the introduction of new shops to establish themselves in a revitalized waterfront is the vision we see as best for the future of our city.

Adding additional retail locations along the beach would indeed increase revenue and bring jobs to the city.

Some boutique shops or stores that are unique to the Southern California coast would be nice, not any chains that could be built anywhere. These shops should have a reason to be placed near the water.

However, they must be built up in moderation. Proponents of Measure C were concerned about the potential for traffic build up, both in vehicle and foot traffic, along the beach if a mall type area was built.

There should be enough exciting shopping to lure a moderate size of customers to the pier, but not to the extent of say the Del Amo Mall or the South Bay Galleria Mall.

The revitalized plan proposed by CenterCal advocates for a rebuilding of the Redondo Beach Pier, but the city should consider remodeling the boardwalk area into a promenade with new shops.

HIGH TIDE Staff Editors-in-Chief Ben Brill

Elizabeth Fauver

Kylie Yorke

Online Manager Mia Berger

News Editor Alex Dang

Opinion Editors Miriam Farah, Jon Mallen

Features Editors Summer Saad, Ben Yepez

Entertainment Editors Justin Pioletti, Ben Yepez

Sports Editor Shaniya Markalanda

Photo Editor Eden Millan

Copy Editors Alexander Clark, Lauren Kim

Writing Editors Reem Chamas, Lauren Kim, Kate Ripley

Technology Editor Samaya Rubio

Staff Writers Aaya Jhaveri Adam Sayad Alex Laureano Alexis Mesa Analisa Asaro Austin Nunis Camille Grace Christina Owen Christopher Snyder Danny Parhizi Ethan Park Grace McGonigle Ivanica Skalko Liam Barret Jenna Edwards Maia Ward Kaden Kaczmarczyk Michael Solimando Kiera Patterson Nicholas White Lorraina Scolaro Rukhaa Kamran Martha Farah Sangjun Lee Molly Cochran Sarah Flannery Sabrina Kim Sophie Fleming Sarah Falahawazi William Pournamdari Shyanne Landers Angie Tait Sydney Nguyen Yasmine Elahihaghighi

Photographers Ben Cheng Shuaib Ahmad Amber DuFresne Elise Dipaola Jade Rona Gracelaina Horn Kierin Woolridge Danielle Sestak Juninho Paniouchkine Mia Wicks

Illustrators Brennan Hickey Makena Frias

Emma Lyon Michael Bottcher

This is a wholly student-managed, designed, and written newspaper that focuses on the school and community.

Signed commentaries and editorial cartoons represent the opinions of the staff writer or cartoonist.

Letters to the editor The High Tide encourages greater input of opinions from both students and staff. If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at

hightideonline@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for content, grammar and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed.

Please keep letters to a maximum of 250 words. Longer guest opinions are also accepted.

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OPINION

Cultural appropriation is insensitive

by Rukhaa Kamran

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

7

Throw-away culture

Throwing away clothes is not healthy for the environment

by Samaya Rubio You enter the Forever 21 in Del Amo. It’s got an odd smell to it, a smell of cheap fabric shipped from struggling countries to our lovely town for all the girls to feel pretty in. You buy a bathing suit top, wear it to the beach for a single day, and after you get home you throw it in the washer. You pull it out and you see a seam coming undone, a clasp rusting, and a loose strap from God knows where. You throw it out — because no one will want it now, and you can’t return it once you’ve worn it — and head right back to Forever 21 the next day.

Why do we do this? Spend our (or our parents’) hard-earned money on clothing that we know won’t last. This is the throw-away clothing dilemma.

I did a bit of browsing online at the Forever 21 website, and I found a pair of plain leggings on there for $3.90 (not on sale). Here’s the catch: online the reviews say things like “not squat proof” and “see-through.” These leggings may be inexpensive, but they are also made in Indonesia and don’t pass the age-old “bend-over test,” a test all legging wearers know well. You bend over and make sure the leggings do not go sheer

when you bend over. Ladies, you know that the last thing we need is for men to be able to see through our pants. We get catcalled enough already.

We move on to “moderate quality” leggings, like Target, who have leggings for $10. Now these leggings have mixed reviews, with some people thinking they were “itchy” or the elastic wore out too quickly. Once the elastic on a pair of leggings wears out you definitely can’t donate them because they won’t stay in place on someone’s legs!

The last quality pair of leggings is Lululemon, a high quality brand that you can also find in the Del Amo mall.

A quick look around their website, and

Ah, Coachella — the time of year where thousands of people go all out with the cornrows, bindis and headdresses for that iconic Instagram photo and witty caption. Despite some people who think the use of other cultures’ accessories is “trendy,” it is actually cultural appropriation.

There is a major difference between appreciating one’s culture and appropriating.

Appreciating is showing genuine interest in a culture and wanting to learn more about it. Appropriating, however, is using certain aspects of a culture as a fashion statement, simply for the reason that it looks stylish and ignoring the significance behind it.

Coachella is a gold mine for cultural appropriation. Many traditional aspects of Indian and Hindu cultures are used at this music festival. The bindi, for example, symbolizes a third eye in Hinduism and can also represent a married woman in India. Knowing and respecting the history is a way of appreciating the beauty behind the bindi.

Henna tattoos also have a major significance behind them. Many people from PakiClothing can be remade into stan, India and Africa have been practicing sports fields, pillow stuffing and the artistry of henna for centuries. It is a common wedding tradition for Hindu and Muslim paper money. brides that demonstrates love and strength for her marriage.

Getting henna tattoos or wearing bindis at Coachella for the sole purpose of looking “chic” belittles its importance. People need to understand that a henna tattoo isn’t the same as those peel-off tattoos. Henna is very symbolic and shouldn’t be worn unless the significance behind it is completely understood.

Understanding a culture takes time and willingness. Those who are appreciating a culA cotton shirt requires 700 ture will fully comprehend its history and origallons of water to make. gins and will respect any practices. Those who are appropriating will pick and choose items they find appealing as an accessory without ILLUSTRATIONS VIA CREATIVE COMMONS AND INFORMATION COMPILED FROM WWW.PLANETAID.ORG knowing the significance. A culture is not a costume, so don’t treat it like one.

Native American headdresses are another example. Headdresses were given to honthe chiefs and warriors in battle as a way of showing respect. They are sacred and have to be earned, giving them spiritual significance.

Native Americans were completely stripped of their identity and forced to submit to European supremacy in the early 19th century because their beliefs and appearances were seen as “strange.” These headdresses are often replicated at Coachella as a bold and flamboyant accessory, yet they were looked down upon when first discovered.

Avoiding cultural appropriation really isn’t that difficult. If you’re planning on wearing something of another culture, figure out if you’re doing it because it looks cool or because you’re genuinely interested and willing to learn about its origins.

People who are truly embracing a culture will most likely know the history and respect the culture through research. Understand the background of what you want to wear and make sure it’s nothing sacred. They are not “exotic accessories” people can just wear for the sake of a music festival or a Halloween costume. They are a reflection of someone’s culture and should not be disrespected.

Those who are culturally appropriating may not realize that they are doing it. In their eyes, they are honoring a culture by presenting themselves in dreadlocks or wearing a Cheongsam dress to show their appreciation.

Cultural appropriation is theft. Imagine doing an assignment and having someone copy your work: you get an F and the person who copied you gets an A. This is cultural appropriation, when someone else gets credit for something you created.

PHOTO VIA CREATIVE COMMONS

I found a comparable pair of leggings for $100. That’s quite a bit of money, but their return policy is worth it. They have so much confidence in their products that they will give you a whole new product for free if it rips or tears.

What did we learn from this whole comparison? You pay for the quality you get. With many people buying the Forever 21 (or similarly cheap) leggings, it’s no wonder that trashing clothes contributes 26 billion pounds to landfills every year, according to Take Part.

So here’s the catch: most people (including me) can’t afford to drop $100 on a pair of leggings. The best answer is to actually repair your clothes. I for one repair all my clothes if they rip, even if I am just preparing to donate the item.

Believe me, I get it. Clothes are expensive! But as a takeaway I’ve been wearing the same jeans since my freshman year and have seen no problems. I paid $35 for mine, and they’re holding up great. Wait for a sale and get yourself some high-quality staple items.

Get yourself a few high-quality staples and you will be set for years. Your bank account and mother nature will thank you.

The average American discards about 82 pounds of textile waste annually.

Clothes may need up to 40 years to decompose.

Best methods to study for AP exams Yes

Videos

Flashcards

Notes

No

12%

88%

Are review sessions helpful?

58%

42%

Do you prefer using flashcards or notes?

Podcasts 15%

85%

Do you prefer podcasts or videos?

8

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Charter schools alleviate problems in our educational system

PHOTO VIA CREATIVE COMMONS

by Adam Yorke Ask your teacher about charter schools, and you’ll probably get the idea that they are education parasites, leeching funding away from the “real” institutions. But charter schools are not parasites, they’re the farthest thing from it. They’re an example of ingenuity and innovation in an education system that refuses to change.

The first thing to know is that charter schools are public schools, free and open to all. However, instead of adhering to uniform education standards set by the state education board, each charter constructs a unique curriculum while still participating in mandated standardized testing. They exercise increased autonomy in return for greater accountability.

Upon founding, charter schools establish their own charter—a performance contract—and are obligated to meet the standards in the charter in order to receive state funding and maintain independence. The variance in curricula is known

as educational pluralism, defined as “government support for diverse institutions that reflects a wide variety of beliefs and commitments.” For example, a few charter schools in Los Angeles are Gifted Academy of Mathematics and Entrepreneurial Studies, Life Source International Charter and California School of the Arts.

The majority of charter schools are located in predominantly minority, low-income neighborhoods where underperforming, overflowing traditional public schools were the only option. Charter schools offer a significantly better learning environment while alleviating pressure from their crowded, traditional counterpart.

Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) examined test data from 41 urban regions from 2007 to 2012 using a “match” analytic that compares the growth of students living in the same neighborhoods who share similar demographic characteristics and similar starting test scores.

The study found that the typical student in an urban charter school receives the equivalent of 40 additional days of learning growth in math and 28 days of additional growth in reading compared to their matched peers in traditional public schools. The results were found to be positive for nearly all student subgroups but

especially strong for impoverished minorities.

CREDO also found that positive results for charter school students increased on average over the period of the study. In the 2008-09 school year, charters produced on average 29 additional days of learning for students in math and 24 additional days of learning in reading. By the 2011-12 school year, charter students received 58 additional learning days in math and 41 additional days in reading relative to their traditional public school peers.

These benefits are clear across the board for low-income students, but are most evident in Hispanic English Language Learners (ELL) students who receive an average of 72 additional days of learning in math and 79 days of reading when compared to their counterparts in public schools.

This statistic clearly represents the unique appeal of charter schools. The traditional American public school system has refused to adapt to more effective teaching methods. All students, regardless of interests, circumstances, or natural ability are mandated to struggle through this educational monolith or pay the high prices of private institutions. Charter schools are a shining example of how educational pluralism benefits the public. Not all students are the same and they should not be educated as if they are.

Charter schools are often created by a group of educators who recognize the rectify the inadequacies of traditional public school. This method fosters success in the classroom and beyond.

Nationwide, just 9 percent of students from the bottom quartile of the income tax bracket earn a bachelor’s degree. Across nine of the country’s largest charter networks, college graduation rates range from 25 percent to 50 percent, three to five times the national average, according to The 74.

In the day and age where a four year education is a prerequisite for almost all well-paying jobs, charter schools are a cogent method for impoverished students to improve their circumstances.

Charter schools are threatening to public schools like Redondo. They receive funding on a per-pupil basis, so the more successful they are, the less funding traditional public schools receive. However, charter schools do not undermine the education system. They enhance it with the opportunities to students they offer.

Charter schools serve as a testament to educational pluralism, capitalistic competition, and hard work. They’re not just a traditional public school, nor an expensive private school, or a lavish arts school, let alone limited to just trade school. Charter schools are all, plus more, providing a spark to a system in desperate need.

Hits&Misses Class of 2022 May 1 has passed, and seniors are now committed to their respective colleges and universities. Congratulations on your hard work!

Stand for the Second Walkout As opposed to a genuine walkout in protest, this seemed more like a petty response to previous walkouts advocating for gun control.

The Koreas hug it out

Kanye West said what?

Kim Jong-un of North Korea and Moon Jae-in of South Korea met last Friday with hopes of reconciliation and peace for the peninsula.

On one hand, he’s one of the greatest musical artists of our generation. On another, he said in a TMZ interview that slavery was a choice.

Yodeling boy was at Coachella

Lobster Fest officially on hiatus

Young country music superstar Mason Ramsey surprised us by performing at Coachella.

Oh, and his new song made the Top 50.

With trouble generating sufficient revenue, the Chamber of Commerce decided not to hold the annual event. Sorry, lobster lovers.

OPINION

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

9

The answer to welfare isn’t more funding, but a better path to employment

CALIFORNIA VERSION

by Adam Sayad

Which state has the highest poverty rate in the country? Surprisingly, it’s California. The same state with the sixth largest economy in the world also has one out of five residents being poor, according to the Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure, which factors in the cost of housing, food, utilities and clothing.

Why would a state with booming technology and entertainment industries also have the highest rate of poverty? Well, California’s policymakers have just increased funding for welfare instead of devising pathways for people to escape government dependence. Additionally, money obtained from a growing economy like California’s can often end up in the hands of a few.

Despite making up 12 percent of America’s population, California has nearly a third of the nation’s welfare recipients. California’s failed approach to welfare should be a national lesson. Dumping money on the issue doesn’t make it better and only increases dependence.

The state’s high poverty rate is fur-

CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE used BLINDLY FUND WELFARE PROGRAM! It’s not very effective...

POKEMON LOGO AND FONTS VIA CREATIVE COMMONS. ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL BOTTCHER

ther masked by the state’s positive rate of job growth and prosperity due to the emergence of several new industries. Furthermore, California’s per-capita GDP increased at a rate of 12.5 percent from 2011 to 2016 while the United States as a whole saw an increase of about 6.27 percent, according to the Census Bureau.

Have our friends in Sacramento neglected us? Not at all. Local and state policymakers in California have dumped massive sums of cash on the issue. California state and local governments spent nearly $958 billion from 1992 through 2015 on public

welfare programs, including cash-assistance payments and “other public welfare,” according to the Census Bureau.

In 1996, Bill Clinton passed welfare legislation entitled “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families” better known as TANF. Clinton had respectable motives with this program. He wanted welfare to no longer be a safety net but a pathway to eventual employment.

TANF encourages its recipients to seek employment by imposing work requirements with a limitation on how long assistance would be given.

However, TANF didn’t meet expectations. In 2014, TANF enrollment tanked to about 850,000 adults and 2.5 million children; a shocking decline of 75 percent from its levels in 1996 according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

TANF is failing because it was poorly enforced and propagated. Many states in the South abandoned the program. Additionally, many people who are eligible aren’t even aware that it exists.

Unfortunately, the program’s potential is not unleashed because many states see TANF as a liability due to the stricter welfare requirements it imposes. The solution, accountability measures to increase employment like those found in TANF, should be backed up with federal funds.

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order promoting federal agencies to increase employment among those on public assistance. It also asks agencies to add work requirements to federal aid programs that currently lack them.

“The federal government should do everything within its authority to empower individuals by providing opportunities for work, including by investing in federal programs that are effective at moving people into the workforce and out of poverty,” the order reads.

The future of the welfare program’s success is uncertain, and only time will tell the effects of Trump’s new bill. But one thing is for sure, blindly funding welfare without a viable plan is something policymakers should steer clear of.

Affirmative action remains necessary as part of college admissions

by Molly Cochran Affirmative action has become controversial because some argue that it’s harder for students of larger-represented groups to get into their universities of choice. Affirmative action, however, is necessary because America must make up for the lack of opportunity that students of minority background have faced in our nation’s history. Due to the United States’ historical injustices, the involvement of affirmative

action in college acceptance remains necessary.

Executive order 10925, signed by John F. Kennedy in 1961 states that “government contractors must take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin.” In 1978, the Supreme Court case University of California v. Bakke decided that “affirmative action” was constitutional as long as it didn’t outline racial “quotas” according to Business Insider.

During the 1950’s, the so-called “white flight” drove white people with money away from neighborhoods where people of color moved in. White people took the wealth when they left because country-wide racism still prevented black people from equal economic opportunity, ac-

cording to The Atlantic.

With the money leaving certain neighborhoods, many of them fell to poverty, and with poverty came a lack of good education. “In about half of the largest 100 cities, most African American and Latino students attend schools where at least 75 percent of all students qualify as poor or low-income under federal guidelines,” according to The Atlantic.

Affirmative Action exists to level the playing field.

In our day and age we have to consider the lack of opportunity that students of color may have because of factors such as institutionalized racism and poor educational systems. Public schools in high poverty areas lack the funding and resources to give students the opportunities that public schools in low poverty areas can give their students.

Even with affirmative action, the final deciding factor for every college is never race. According to The New York Times, “the courts have ruled that colleges and universities can consider race or ethnicity as just one element in a holistic admissions policy.” This ruling means that a 4.0 GPA Hispanic student won’t necessarily be accepted over a 4.0 GPA white student.

Many additional factors determine college acceptance.

Opportunity is not equal across all neighborhoods or all races. While it may seem unfair for some of us that students of less represented groups have a slight advantage when it comes to college acceptance, we without the advantage must recognize the historical and contemporary struggles that make a head start necessary for previously underrepresented grouped students to remain competitive.

Confront your problems with people rather than running away from them

by Kate Ripley No one can deny that feeling of dread when you must confront a person with whom you have a conflict. However, if there’s anything ‘90s chick flicks have taught us, it’s that avoiding confrontation always makes the situation worse. People need to start owning up to mistakes and having honest communication with one another rather than avoiding conflict.

As adolescents, we are developing social patterns and habits that may stay with us for the rest of our lives. Those habits should be beneficial to ourselves and those around us. Communication is one of those important habits. Too many sticky situations become so much worse through a lack of honesty and a lack of verbalized communication. Texting someone does not count.

Sure there are actual reasons to avoid confrontation: fear of losing a connection, looking weak, or admitting something you don’t want to.

No one likes to upset someone they care about, but what they often fail to realize is that discomfort is inevitable and if they care, they should try to minimize it with a simple solution. When people attempt to hide things from one another or avoid difficult discussions, it prolongs the issue and creates other factors that worsen the situation.

Lack of communication also creates doubt and mistrust. If you don’t tell someone exactly what you mean, it allows them to draw their own conclusions, conclusions that are often wrong.

If you have an issue with someone, talk to them about it or don’t talk about it at all. Gossip only escalates issues because no matter how much they swear they won’t, your friends are going to tell people and so on. It quickly becomes a game of telephone and chances are what you really said won’t reach the person, but instead a version much worse.

Confrontation doesn’t need to be an explosive firecracker of an argument in front

of all your peers. In fact, keeping it simple is always the better solution. Say what you want to be said, and leave it at that.

Most people who avoid confrontation say they do it because they care about others or because they don’t want to hurt someone. The reality is that confrontation is awkward and often embarrassing, and it also puts one in a vulnerable position.

However, people should be setting their pride and comfort aside for a moment to realize the changes they need to make and the respect they owe others. It might be embarrassing, but if you truly want to have influence over a situation and its outcomes, then confrontation is necessary. Causing confusion or pain in someone else simply because you

ILLUSTRATION BY MARGARETT TAYLOR

feel uncomfortable talking to them is selfish and doesn’t help anyone in the long run.

Apologize to your friend, face a fear and make amends. It doesn’t need to be a life or death confrontation, but take that extra step to ensure that your message is the message people are receiving.

10 May 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

IN FOCUS

[cont. from cover]

Life Rafts School counselor and school psychologist provide recources for distraught students, especially those who are suicidal

by Martha Farah

Being aware of what stresses a person out can help them avoid those things, which is a key factor to helping oneself. Also, practicing coping skills ahead of time is important because when a person is frustrated, it is hard to think of solutions in the moment, according to Hunt.

“If you’re already stressed out, you’re like ‘I have no idea [what would help me].’ When you’re calm, you can think about things like ‘I feel good when I call my friends, when I listen to music or whenever I take my dog for a run,’” Hunt said. “Then, you can use those same things whenever you’re feeling stressed to help manage and make yourself feel better.”

Hunt encourages students to look at the bigger picture when dealing with a problem.

“We always come from a place of reminding people that there is so much more in life,” Hunt said. “I always encourage kids to think about if it will matter next week, next month or next year because sometimes, we think it’s stuff that’s the end of the world [when it’s not].”

Taking a moment to remember that everybody on the planet is dealing with something is helpful, according to Hunt.

“It’s important to remind people that there are people who are supportive and do care for them,” Hunt said. “We can overcome all kinds of problems and there really isn’t much in life that we cannot overcome with support.”

Hunt believes that it is important to spread the word and let each other know that “we’re all in this together.” “[About a month ago], we had a death on campus. It was really great to see all the students come together, support one another and see that love that was among students. Grief is a really difficult thing for students, so seeing that level of support shows me that students are on the right track already,” Hunt said.

Seeking help can be a difficult at times, especially when it is for friends, according to Hunt.

“I know it sounds weird to rat out your friends but sometimes if you know that somebody is struggling and you’re not sure how to help, don’t be afraid to reach out to somebody and say ‘I’m worried about my friend’,” Hunt said.

If students do not feel comfortable with having a direct conservation to seek help either for themselves or others, they may use anonymous methods such as Sprigeo leave a note under Hunt’s door, as some have done.

“Hopefully at the end of the day, the person you are trying to help will understand that you are coming from a place of love, caring and support and that you’re not trying to throw them to the wolves,”

“It’s okay to have days where we are frustrated and it’s okay to vent those things.”

-Holly Hunt

Hunt said. “I would encourage students to reach out in other ways if they’re afraid of being direct.”

Trust and confidentiality are necessary for people when speaking about their problems. Everything a student states is confidential with the exception of three things: If a student is going to hurt someone, if a student is going to hurt themselves or if a somebody is hurting the student. In these situations, the parents would be notified along with a greater support system.

Letting students know that there are safe people to vent and talk to without worry is crucial. Students should know that there is an outlet, according to Hunt.

“It’s okay to have days where we are frustrated and it’s okay to vent those things. There are a ton of people on this campus that love to have students stop by and talk about what is on their mind, whether good or bad,” Hunt said. “Students should seek out those relationships so that everybody feels like they have someone on campus that they connect with.”

If students do not feel comfortable sharing their situation with somebody on campus, they may talk to the counselors for hotline numbers. There are many ways to talk to somebody, even anonymously.

“We have numbers that they could have if it’s two in the morning and they are feeling really overwhelmed,” Straight said. “We have a lot of students that don’t want to necessarily disclose to their parents, their friends and school counselors that they’re struggling even though we’re here to help students for more than just the academics.”

Addressing suicide helps bring awareness according to Hunt, which may cause a drop in suicide rates.

“It’s a difficult conversation and it’s a taboo topic for a lot of people,” Hunt said. “However, with the more people that talk about it, it becomes easier for that person who is sitting in the corner and who has thought about it to talk, if they see other people are talking about this issue too.”

It is necessary to talk about mental health and coping skills in schools, according to Hunt.

“I think that Redondo Union is pretty progressive, and continuing to make mental health part of the curriculum in the same way that we take care of our bodies is important,” Hunt said. “It’s important to be aware of how to cope with the different feelings and emotions that we feel in regards of stress, -Tiffany Straight anxiety or depression.”

For the sake of one’s mental health and happiness, it is a priority for students to be connected with help, according to Straight.

“At the end of the day, no one really should be suffering, but that’s what’s happening with the suicides,” Straight said. “People are suffering so long on their own that they get to that point where they feel totally hopeless.”

Straight believes that only talking about the stress and tragedies will not make them go away, but it is how a student decides to cope with them.

“You guys are in your adulthood and the train goes on whether this tragic situation happens or not, so we have to cope with it. First, it’s identifying the stress,” Straight said. “Some tragedy may occur, but those things happen.

It’s how do we handle that, thrive and not get ourselves to that deep, dark and hopeless place.”

“Some tragedy may occur, but it’s how we handle that, thrive and not get ourselves to that deep, dark and hopeless place.”

The drawin of the is created words and p artist hears in in a “really bad p

Rates of teen suicide and depr 60% of high school students Illustrations by Cheyenne Franklin

claim they have thought about committing suicide.

Among 14 the 3rd l higher th

IN FOCUS

e ng girl using phrases the her hed when place.”

May 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Two students struggle through depression and suicidal thoughts

Marie Major* experienced depression freshman year after sexual assault and death of a mentor

by Martha Farah *For confidentiality, the source is referred to as Marie Major Student Marie Major suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts, reflecting on her experiences as she hope to push for a better future.

Although she suffers from continuing hereditary depression, Major’s illness progressed in middle school when she had a falling-out with friends and suffered from poor body image after being bullied for her slower progress in puberty.

However, her depression escalated freshman year after two traumatic events: the death of a life mentor and an unhealthy relationship that resulted in her being sexually assaulted.

“I proceeded to get worse and then during my freshman year in December, I went into my parents’ bathroom and my [parents] take a lot of medications, so I pulled out all their pill bottles out,” Major said. “Nobody was home and I sat on the floor pouring pills into my hand. I was crying and I was staring at them. I wanted to do it but I didn’t because I was scared.”

That night made Major realized how serious her mental situation was. She decided that if she did not take action, she would likely resort to suicide.

“A week later, it was just my dad and I alone.

I sat in my room for about two hours trying to psych myself up. I told him about everything that happened and how I was feeling. My dad is like the strong stone-faced one and we were both crying,” Major said.

Major began going to therapy about two weeks later and began taking antidepressant medication soon after, which helps her immensely. Many people may be ashamed to have counseling and therapy, but it is not something people should be concerned about since it is helpful, according to Major.

Through therapy and the support she received, Major has not self-harmed in about two years and her view of herself as a person has greatly improved.

“I told my therapist one time that I hated myself, but

then I realized that I had good qualities too,” Major said. “I didn’t save myself for my own purposes; I did it because I realized that I could help others. I thought that if I killed myself I was basically damning others too.”

Major acknowledges that she is lucky to have a close relationship with her parents, and she recognizes that not every student has that outlet. However, while seeking help is often “awkward” or “scary,” Major believes it is important for students to take care of themselves.

“A lot of kids are scared, but I think that you have to do it because your life is worth it even if you don’t think it is,” Major said. “Most people when they’re on the edge think that their family and friends would be better off without them, but that’s never the case.”

Through her experience, Major has learned that there are bad times, but it is not the end of the world.

“I wish I hadn’t gone through that, but on the other hand, I feel like it’s strengthened me as a person,” Major said. “It’s created an empathy within me and I think that’s really important. There’s not enough empathy in the world and that’s probably the number one thing that going through something so painful can teach you.”

Major is inspired by a quote she saw once saying, “Everything is going to be okay in the end, and if it is not okay, then it is not the end.”

“You might think that everybody would be better off without you, but that’s never true. If you aren’t happy with yourself, you should be bettering yourself rather than ending it,” Major said. “I know it feels like you’re extremely isolated and the only person feeling this immense pain, but that’s far from the truth.”

Her experience with depression has influenced Major to recognize that suicide is never worth it.

“I was probably at the lowest of the lows that I’ve been in my life and I almost did it, but I didn’t,” Major said. “I’m so glad I didn’t because I winded up creating relationships that are absolutely outstanding and I met new people who have become my family because I stayed.”

“I know it feels like you’re extremely isolated and the only person feeling this immense pain, but that is far from the truth.”

Jane Doe* considered suicide, but overcame depression after therapy

by Martha Farah Student Jane Doe was also depressed and considered suicide in hopes of an “escape.”

“When I was in eighth grade, I was bullied by a close friend and told to kill myself,” Doe said. “I just gave up and fell into a deep hole.”

Doe approached her mother, asking her for help. She took Doe to a therapist, who she now goes to weekly. Doe believes that the counselor and staff have helped her immensely in her recovery.

“They are always there to help you and will support you through anything,” Doe said. “If you do need help, you should always go to [a therapist] or someone you feel safe around.”

Doe used cutting as an outlet when she was depressed to make herself feel “alive” and “normal.” Because of the cuts on her skin, she decided to get help from a therapist.

Through her survival, Doe learned to always see the positives in situations.

“I realized that you should live your life to the fullest because eventually you won’t be able to anymore,” Doe said.

“You’ll miss out on all the fun things that you should have done instead of crying or not asking for help.”

Every second someone asks for help can make a difference in a person’s happiness, according to Doe. “You’ll come out stronger than you ever were going into it. I love my days when I am stronger, more powerful and an all-around happier person,” Doe said.

Doe believes that students should not be afraid to talk to an adult or friend about help.

“You can fight this and you will make it through,” Doe said. “Eventually, all the scars and thoughts are going to go away and you will be able to be realize how strong, confident and powerful you are now that you pushed through that part of your life.”

ression are on the rise, according to recent statistics

4-25 year olds,suicide is

leading cause of death, han cancer or heart disease.

11

In the last 60 years, the rate of teenage suicide in America has tripled.

It is estimated that half of all serious adult psychiatric illness, including depression, begin by age 14.

12

FEATURES

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

STARRY NIGHT

Shy pursues his passion for Astronomy by utilizing local resources

by Sabrina Kim Most students gaze at the sky as a dull way to pass time in class. Senior Joey Shy gazes at the sky to consider the endless possibilities of the world’s last frontier, space.

According to Shy, his passion for astronomy stems from society's lack of knowledge about the universe.

“Being able to look somewhere and discover something that no one has ever seen before is being a true pioneer,” Shy said.

“I’m looking at something no one else has ever looked at before, and that's just above anything else for me.”

The idea of a “true pioneer” has left Shy wanting to see the universe as no one has ever before. This led his his dream of being an astronaut.

“When I go on a hike, I try not to follow the trail,” Shy said. “Someone has seen that already and been there. There's almost no place left on Earth that at least one person or animal has not been, but no one has even left our solar system.”

A friend of Shy’s, Senior Bryan Cloutier, also found a love for astronomy, so much that he also lets it influence his life.

“I actually have the astronomy merit badge through Boy Scouts, and it was probably my favorite badge to take,” Cloutier said. “This influenced me to take AP Physics this year, since some astronomy concepts are dealt with.”

Because of their shared interests, the two can take part about topics pertaining to astronomy.

“We sometimes have talks about SpaceX and their different programs,” Cloutier said.

“Since he’s also taking AP Physics, we’ve talked about orbital motion and the physics of the Tesla launch.”

In his own AP Physics class, Shy was able to 3D print a telescope attachment allowing him to use his telescope during the day.

“RUHS has given me a platform to use their materials and their education staff to help further my astronomy interests,” Shy

said.

In order to fulfil his aspiration, Shy has decided to commit to California Polytechnic State University where he will be studying Aerospace engineering.

“My future plans are to be an Aerospace engineer with a focus on space travel rather than air travel,” Shy said. “I plan on using my minoring skills in astronomy and astrophysics to one day work on space telescopes or plans.”

According to Shy, after he got his own telescope, he became more interested in astronomy. He even took a college astronomy course through the University of Arizona. Because of this class, he can utilize his knowledge to identify different galaxies on a website called Galaxy Zoom.

“Professional astronomers post their data and the community can help specifically analyze photos of galaxies since they don't have enough time to look at the millions of photos on their own,” Shy said. “I get the opportunity to look at certain pictures of galaxies that have been photographed and figure out what type of galaxy it is and help the astronomers.”

The vastness of these galaxies leave him in awe. According to Shy, “there is no purer form of beauty” than star gazing.

“I go on runs a lot at night and sometimes when the moon is very big on the horizon or orange or when there's a lot of stars out and there's not that much light pollution I stop running and I just look up. My mind is completely blank.”

Just knowing about how massive the universe is and how much is still unknown can make someone feel insignificant.

“The things I see are thousands upon millions of light years away but I’m able to directly observe them look at every galaxy and star,” Shy said. “I can't fathom to think where that leaves me. It makes me feel so small, but to be able to study it makes me feel that I can change that.”

Star gazing. Shy poses with his telescope. PHOTO BY SAMANTHA ALDOVER

Jordan Jackson writes and records original songs

by Aaya Jhaveri

In the studio. Jackson and friends in a music studio. PHOTO BY BRENDAN CUNNINGHAM

Sitting in his recording studio and tuning out the world, senior Jordan Jackson writes and records songs in hopes of making his mark in the music industry.

Jackson decided to start songwriting and recording four months ago, finding inspiration through his brother’s music taste.

“I was very influenced by my older brother, he has been putting me on to a lot of music ever since I was little,” said Jackson. “He wanted to rap as well when he was younger, but he decided it wasn’t for him. But he thought that I might like to do it, and he suggested it to me and I tried it out and I loved it.”

Along with his brother, artists with good judgement in such a “cut throat” industry have also inspired Jackson to pur-

sue his musical career.

“I look up to a lot of artists especially the ones who are smart with the decisions they make within the industry,” said Jackson. “An example would be Drake. Drake has been around since I’ve been a kid and has never made a wrong move. He is smart and one of the most relevant and versatile rappers right now.”

Being new to songwriting and recording, Jackson is still discovering and playing between different music styles.

“Since I started not too long ago, I’m still trying to find my voice and how I want my style to be. I definitely want my music to be slow but also very flowy,” said Jackson.

“Good music is different for everybody but I want people to be able to vibe to my music as well as turn up to it.”

Jackson hopes to make his music more personal to his life and share it with the world in the future.

“I definitely do want to do this as a job when I get older,” said Jackson. “But this is also a way for me to get my foot into the entertainment business because I really want to act as well but I love to make music. I enjoy it and there is something about making something that is yours just that much better. Eventually I want to be at the level where everyone looks towards my music as something relatable.”

Becoming more acquainted with the songwriting process has altered Jackson’s view of music.

“I definitely listen to music differently and wonder what goes into making a song,” said Jackson. “I’m always thinking about lyrics in my head and what sounds good or what resonates with people.”

Jackson first started off on SoundCloud but is now shifting to also make music videos that align with his music style.

“I recently deleted all my music because I’m re-branding myself as of right now, I changed my name and I want my music to sound clearer,” said Jackson. “I’m dropping a music video with a friend of mine that has a summer time feel to it. It will be out in about a month and a half, around the time I graduate.”

Having to come up with lyrics and ideas and also commute to Downtown, Los Angeles in order to get to his recording studio, Jackson has less downtime.

“It is extremely time consuming, I don’t even go to parties the same anymore,” said Jackson. “I’m always trying to make connections or promote myself in some way and when I’m not doing that I’m either writing or recording.”

Jackson believes it is important for artists to use their platforms to raise awareness and prefers to create lyrics about societal issues, such as drug abuse.

“Everyone channels something they’re passionate about into their music and for me that’s drug abuse,” said Jackson. “It is so relevant to people our age and it’s definitely relatable.”

FEATURES

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

13

Nailed it

Curtin and Esser particpate in Baja Christian Ministries’ trip to Mexico

by Maia Ward

Tears and smiles fill the room as twenty-three volunteers present a grateful family with a key to their newly built house.

Every year, the youth group and volunteers, including seniors Zoe Curtin and Dana Esser, from the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (LCGS), work with the Baja Christian Ministries (BCM) to raise money for the building of a house in Tecate, Mexico, according to LCGS’ Family Ministry Director Jonathan Bell. BCM is a non-profit organization that offers schools, churches and youth groups the opportunity to build houses for the needy through their “Casa de Dios” building program which provides volunteers with concrete floors, construction materials and any additional assistance groups request.

Families in Tecate who need homes are given what they cannot provide for themselves through the work of BCM and groups like Curtin and Esser’s. BCM makes a list of families who demonstrated need, and the families with the most need are given top priority for volunteers to build their homes. According to Esser, multiple houses are built a week by various church groups and volunteers.

Twenty-three volunteers and members of the youth group, including Curtin and Esser, built a home this year from April 7 to April 11. The house Esser and Curtin’s group help build this year was for a family of four, with two young sons, two and four years old.

Curtin and Esser both agree that the most rewarding moment of the trip is the presentation of the new house to the family they have helped.

“When we handed the keys off to the family, it was emotional. They were crying because they were so happy,” Curtin said.

“We felt like we did something good for someone else.”

Curtin and Esser acknowledge that this year’s home was so successful because they received an unusual amount of volunteers. Esser, who has gone on the trip six years in a row, notices that it is usually difficult to get members of the youth group to go on the trip because many are under eighteen.

“This year we felt more prepared because last year less people came on the trip, and we didn’t finish the house all the way,” Curtin said.

In previous years, the group has not had the time to work on details, such as painting the inside of the house, that are usually

left for the family to finish on their own.

However, with the extra volunteers this year, they had enough time to finish every detail.

The director of BCM’s Casa de Dios program, Pastor Hector Rubio, has been with the program since he received his own home in 1993. Rubio led the volunteers on the first day where they completed the majority of construction. The second and third days of the trip were dedicated to finishing the inside of the house, the roof, and an outhouse.

Work on the house begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m., putting the frame, drywall and boards on the walls up, according to Curtin.

During these three days, however, Curtin and Esser had very different experiences actually building the house.

While Curtin’s most memorable moment was painting the outside of the house with the two young boys it was for, Esser’s favorite part of building was getting to shingle the roof, which she said she learned last year.

“A lot of people were inside, painting or doing drywall, but I didn’t like to be inside.

I just went outside and did the whole roof,” Esser said.

Esser also believes that her time in Tecate is humbling and forces her to look at her own life from a new perspective.

“Every time you go to Mexico or on a mission trip, you always come home different. You always come home thinking, ‘we’re so privileged, we have so much,’” Esser said. “I think I re-learn that every single time.”

Curtin and Esser consider their times in Mexico to be inspiring, and both have plans to continue working in Mexico and other countries in the future.

Curtin, while unsure of what exactly she wants to do in the future, is confident that she will return to Mexico to build more houses.

Going to Mexico this year allowed Curtin and Esser to appreciate the work they did to help a family in need while strengthening their friendships and community before they graduate.

“I think you realize that you can do so much for someone [by] doing something they can’t do. These parents worked fulltime and had two little kids, but they couldn’t give their kids a home,” Esser said.

“Knowing that even for a week, you can go and give a family a home is life-changing.”

Giving back. Curtin and Esser in front of the home they were building. PHOTO BY ELIJAH HENRY

Senior Kolbe Holdsworth sells his artwork to peers

by Sarah Falahahwazi Through selling paintings and music, senior Kolby Holdsworth shares the essence of what it’s like to live by the beach.

“I try to reflect the things that I enjoy about being here in Redondo, like being so close to the sun and the water all the time,” Holdsworth said. “I want to express emotions of tranquility, but also how there’s always something new happening here.

There’s always a new flower in bloom or a new store opening down the street.”

Holdsworth puts together pieces of construction paper coated with house paint to illustrate life on the West Coast. He describes his art as “colorful, bright and western.” Though he does not promote his artwork, he will sell his paintings to anyone who expresses interest in them.

“I was inspired by hearing and seeing things I enjoyed. I wanted to take these things and change them up a bit so I’d like them even more, and I’d put these out there so I could inspire other people too,” Holdsworth said.

The beach is a place of inspiration for Holdsworth. The sand and the sun remind him of experiences in his life, such as his surfing trips. When he paints, he imagines the shapes and sounds that went through his mind during those moments and communicates those feelings through his work.

“Since I really like laying in the sun, I try to picture the feeling of what it’s like to be in that completely calm moment. I’ll then take those colors that go through my mind and put it into my art,” Holdsworth said.

“When I paint, I want all the colors to go together to create an emotion of what it’s like to be here in California and to experience the people and the sunshine.”

In addition to paintings, Holdsworth also sells records he obtains from Vintage Vinyl since he likes sharing music with

1.

others. He has also played guitar since he was eight and enjoys making old rhythm and blues songs, although he prefers playing over singing.

Music has influenced Holdsworth’s attitude towards life as he learned to appreciate the value of his experiences and the people around him. He taught himself how to play guitar through watching videos on Youtube and trying to learn how all the chords worked. Though he has not yet played with an official band, he performed a few songs in the Standing Room Restaurant in Hermosa Beach.

“Music has put a lot of value in my life,” Holdsworth said. “When I play music, I feel like I’m living in the present. I play songs to change or keep the mood of wherever I’m playing.”

Holdsworth hopes to make a career out of art and music so he can share his passion with others. The purpose of his artwork,

2. he says, is not to earn a profit, but to inspire others as much as living in Redondo has motivated him.

“My art and my music are really just new things coming together to make a bigger picture,” Holdsworth said. “I want to create a feeling that others can feel too.”

3.

Young Picasso. 1. Holdsworth enjoys painting ocean scenery that captures the West Coast’s beauty. 2. Holdsworth uses everyday materials such as colored paper in his artwork. 3. His appreciation for nature is the reason Holdsworth continues to produce art.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KOLBE HOLDSWORTH

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NEWS

MAY. 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Fighting for her life Freshman Elizabeth Kolb battles a tumour with her friend’s and family’s support

By Alexis Mesa On top of the projects and homework typical for a high school student, freshman Elizabeth Kolb is forced to endure stress in a rare and dangerous form, a tumor.

“It’s a constant thought. You’re always aware of it. It affects what you do every day,” Kolb said.

Kolb is battling a non-cancerous mass in her pelvis known as a desmoid tumor, or aggressive fibromatosis.

Pressing against her lymph nodes and bladder, the tumor has the potential to cause her intense pain. However, her treatment causes just as much distress.

“The medication has side effects that inhibit my ability to do certain activities with my friends,” Kolb said. “I was supposed to go to the beach on the Friday before Spring Break, but my skin was extremely sensitive from the medication, so I couldn’t be out in the sun. It’s frustrating. I want to live my life without being concerned about my health.”

In an effort to shrink the tumor, Kolb undergoes chemotherapy in a pill form. She describes its effects on her body as “uncomfortawble” and “an inconvenience.”

“When I’m walking it feels like I’m stepping on glass, when I write my hand cramps a whole lot more and when I eat it’s really hard because my tongue and my throat always hurt,” Kolb said.

Initially, Kolb had to drive over an hour to the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital every Saturday for intravenous chemotherapy. For three months, she sacrificed her weekends for treatment until doctors found that no progress was made.

“I’d go home and feel all the disgusting side effects for the entire day. None of the treatment worked, and my tumor actually grew to 15 centimeters in diameter from 12 centimeters,” Kolb said. “I was disappointed. It was just a

big waste of time.”

Her time in the hospital was not only spent receiving treatment. In response to the chemotherapy, Kolb’s immune system weakened, leaving her prone to sickness.

However, her doctor’s new approach causes substantial problems to her health. Kolb’s new medication leaves her feeling lethargic and unmotivated. As a result, school gets increasingly difficult.

“I’m so darn tired all the time and all I want to do is relax and breathe, but I can’t because I have a lot of other things to worry about,” Kolb said.

“Fortunately, the school is really good about my medical issues. They give me time to make up the days I missed.”

Removing the tumor was never an option for Kolb. If discovered earlier, the tumor would have been small enough to remove. Today, removing it could cause severe trauma to her surrounding muscle tissue.

“I’ve thought about removing the tumor with surgery and risking the effects. The treatment isn’t just physically exhausting, it’s mentally exhausting,” Kolb said.

Despite the discomfort and stress, Kolb remains cheerful with the help of her close friends who purposely maintain a lighthearted mood.

“My friends are cool about the situation. There’s laughter and fun which makes me feel better. They make sure I don’t have to focus on the reality of it all,” Kolb said. “If you make it depressing you’re going to get depressed.”

Kolb also credits her family for giving her the support she needs. However, their approach varies dramatically

from that of her friends.

“My mom cried, my dad felt really bad and my sister was shocked. There was pity. They were trying to be sympathetic, I understand that, but there was this look in their eyes where you could just tell that they felt sorry for me. It sucks. You don’t want to be pitied by anybody,” Kolb said.

From scheduling when she takes her meds to communicating with the school, Kolb’s mother, Shannon Kolb, provides whatever she can for her daughter.

“All the back and forth to Downtown LA was emotional. Seeing her get pricked every week was horrifying for me,” Shannon said. “Everything has to be planned. You have to plan her medicine on time. All that is exhausting, flat out exhausting.”

Above all, she makes sure Elizabeth is emotionally sound in spite of the medication and constant hospital visits. Shannon is confident Elizabeth will win her fight no matter the obstacles that lie ahead.

“She’s pretty straightforward and says ‘whatever happens, happens,’ but it’s hard to tell. She says she’s fine, but I know deep down inside she’s thinking about it. She doesn’t want to dwell on it and get upset. She wants to tough it out and get through it,” Shannon said.

Through the chemotherapy, side effects and obligation to be a good student, Elizabeth is appreciative of the help from those who surround her. With their aid, she is optimistic that she will return to the life of an ordinary teenager.

“Everybody deals with their own issues in their own ways,” Elizabeth said. “But you should always remember that it’s also helpful to have friends and family no matter who you are.”

“We’re going to fight it,” Shannon said. “Whatever she’s going to do, she’s going to fight it. She’s not going to let this stop her.”

- Shannon Kolb

“I would have unexpected doctors appointments and unexpected illnesses. I’d be in the hospital for a while just to make sure I didn’t get an infection.”

- Elizabeth Kolb

5 ways to get a five As AP season approaches, students share tips on how to succeed on the tests

By Shyanne Landers

“

I outline everything for my classes, and I go through it and review the material. I plan designated days where I do certain practice problems. I do the problems repeatedly and review on the ones I get wrong. After that I’ll go over the outline again and just go back and forth.

”

- Cindy Wokendi, Senior

“ I completely read over all of my notes. I wait about three or four days before the day of the AP Exam

to actually start studying. I start around 3pm and keep going until it’s a reasonable time to go to sleep, which is like 9 or 10pm. If I don’t get enough sleep, then I won’t remember anything. I do this for every AP test I have. I also try to prioritize the classes by whichever is difficult.

”

- Jonathan Lam, Junior

“

I’ve been going to the review sessions that my AP teachers have. My APUSH teacher goes by time period, so we get to go over everything in order. She also has us basically rewrite all of our notes and it helps. I look at quizlets and review packets that my teacher hands out to her classes.

”

- Cally Duca, Junior

“

The one thing that actually helps me to commit the information to memory is watching videos on YouTube, like Jocz Productions and Tom Richey, because hearing it audibly again really helps me solidify the information in my name.

”

- Kylie Yorke, Junior

“ Make sure to pay attention throughout the year so that you really learn the information. Pay attention in class and review sessions, and make sure to participate in the review sessions. Ask questions if you are unsure about a topic.”

- Alexander Clark , Junior

NEWS

MAY. 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

15

What is a leader?

Recent studies asking participants to draw a leader have yielded interesting results

By Amanda Ban Society tells us what actresses, librarians and doctors should look like, but what does a leader look like? What do the leaders that you look up to look like? Do physical attributes have any effect on one’s ability to effectively lead people?

The New York Times recently hosted an experiment about what a leader should look like. The prompt was simple: “Draw an effective leader.” The variation (or lack thereof) in the drawings revealed a lot about people’s perceptions of leaders.

This exercise can often reveal either conscious or subconscious prejudices. In the original experiment conducted by Tina Kiefer, a professor of organizational behaviour at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, found that most people’s idea of an effective leader was male.

Even women tended to draw a man or hint that a leader should be male. They believe getting recognized as a women in the workplace is a lot harder, and they do not stand a chance.

A study by the Academy of Management Journal found similar results. Their task was slightly different from Kiefer’s . People were asked to listen to statements made by either ‘Eric’ or ‘Erica’ in a monthly sales team meeting for a

fictional insurance company and rate how effective their input was.

Essentially the result was that men and women could give the same speech about how to improve the company and across the board the subjects of the experiment would rate the man as a more effective leader.

When an experiment was done at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the results were still identical. Participants in the experiment would rank who they want as a leader, a man or women. Women who spoke up multiple times received no status boost while a man would be praised.

According to Dr. Alice Eagly, a psychologist at Northwestern University, as quoted by the New York Times, people not necessarily perceive women as “less capable than men” but, many people associate the ability to “take charge” with effective leaders and men.

Often times prejudices can be taught subliminally.

Many people hold prejudices that they aren’t even aware they have. However, it is completely possible for people to look beyond the stereotypes and work towards a more accepting and progressive future.

Eye of the beholder. The various studies conducted about people’s ideas of an effective leader revealed various biases. ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF FLICKR VIA CREATIVE COMMONS

“An effective leader doesn’t have

a set look. An effective leader can and should be anyone from a woman to a man to a minority, tall, short etc. For me a leader can be anyone who has the strength and wisdom to lead.”

- Soloman

Conley

“Confidence is a must in a good

“An effective leader really doesn’t

have to look attractive or be good looking, just welcoming. A leader should also come off as someone who has themself in check and is well taken care of.”

- Brandon

Schloss

leader, and I think that a leader should have qualities that display that.”

- Izzy

Chacon

ENTERTAINMENT

16

That’s so ‘90s

Retro trends are in with Liza and friends The 90’s are making a comeback. That’s right, those old jeans that your mom wore in college are the new (old) trend, along with overalls, stripes, round-frame glasses and denim, denim, and oh — more denim. Also, oversized t-shirts offer comfort and style, making people run back to it. At the end of the day, super skinny jeans can’t offer the same level of comfort that tracksuits can people want.

“Almost every outfit I have has something thrifted because there are so many more options, like I’ve purchased five shirts for less than $10 before.”

-Sheina Galgani, junior

“I wear the clothes that I do because I like to dress differently, and I like to wear a lot of bright colors that don’t completely fit with normal styles.”

-Liza Holmes, junior

“I get my inspiration from looking at pictures online and from YouTube videos.”

-Ryan Cartee, junior

Threaded. Juniors Madison Reno, Sabina Scholnick, Julia Chun, Liza Holmes, Ryan Cartee, Elli Jacobson, Sheina Galgani and Lauren Zarnick typically buy their clothes from Urban Outfitters and Goodwill. PHOTOS BY LILLY LOPEZ

Silence is golden

John Krasinski merges horror and family in “A Quiet Place“

by Sydney Nguyen For most, is a sense we take for granted in daily life since it is found all around.

However, in a world where any noise could jeopardize lives, “silence is survival” and a deeper appreciation for sound is developed. John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” brings not only a suspenseful thriller that leaves audiences holding their breath at every scene, but a captivating film focusing on family dynamic and how far parents will go for their children.

The Abbott family, that consists of parents Lee (John Krasinski) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt), their eldest daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and son Marcus (Noah Jupe), live on an isolated farm in a world overrun by blind creatures that hunt by sound, causing them to adapt a silent lifestyle. Viewers navigate through the Abbotts’ lives as Evelyn is close to giving birth, and the family defends themselves from the horrors heading their way.

Instead of being some cliche horror film with an overused plot of characters saving the world from these invading creatures, Krasinski, who directed, co-wrote and starred in the film, wanted the film to focus on the family itself and this brings audiences to grow a stronger connection with the Abbott family.

“Yes, it’s a scary movie, but what was in it was a story of a family trying to survive.

What extremes would you go through to protect your kids?” Krasinski said in an interview with Jimmy Fallon. “The best compliments are when people come out and they’d say, ‘I never thought I would cry in a horror movie,’ and I’m like, ‘That’s it!

That’s why I did it.’”

There is no set plotline, however this concept works better for the film because of Krasinski’s primary focus on the family’s relationship that singles out the Abbotts and brings audiences closer to them.

Viewers are rooting for this family’s survival and some of the audience might even be brought to tears. This is something usually unheard of for horror movies, but the emotions brought out from the film are a pleasant surprise.

With only four main characters throughout the movie, Krasinski was able to compile a strong cast that delivered an emotional and natural relationship as a

family.

Since Krasinski and Blunt are a real-life couple, it helped with the authenticity of their relationship on screen. Their role of the parents was very sincere especially in a scene where the couple escapes the chaos and hopelessness of their lives in a slow dance to Neil Diamond’s “Harvest Moon”.

Even though they are trapped in this isolated and miserable situation, they make many efforts to try and normalize their lives such as a simple slow dance and supplying their kids games such as Monopoly with cloth pieces.

The cast was inclusive with deaf actress Millicent Simmonds playing the role of the eldest Abbott child, who is deaf in the movie. With Simmonds on set, the accuracy of her character’s actions and feelings were truly exhibited since she goes through similar experiences on a daily basis.

Krasinski wanted viewers to experience certain scenes through the daughter’s perspective. Scenes that focused on Simmonds’ character were completely silent so that audiences were able to take a step into her world, which was an fascinating feature to include. It brings us to another level of understanding with the character, something not many movies are able to pull off.

Since the family has to live in silence, they communicate through sign language for the majority of the movie, adding to the movie’s uniqueness.

Because words were not used much, the movie relied on the actor’s facial expressions and some music to build suspense, and the skillful acting supplied this suspense.

“A Quiet Place” has its fair share of uniqueness, from the central focus of the movie to its almost all silent scenes, that sets it apart from other cliched horror movies. It’s a beautifully crafted movie and a must see whether you are looking for a good scare or a moving film beautifully capturing family dynamics.

A QUIET PLACE JOHN KRASINSKI

ENTERTAINMENT

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

17

Righteousness gone wrong J. Cole’s “K.O.D.” drowns the listener in his amplified past and apprehensive worldview

by Austin Nunis J. Cole’s newest album, “KOD,” initially engages listeners with an exciting, IDGAF attitude combined with a spunky beat, but often becomes obnoxious, dripping with repetition and self-righteousness.

Cole revealed the meaning of the title in a trailer he released for the album a few hours before the album dropped.

“KOD” simultaneously stands for three things. The first definition deals with Cole’s theme of Kids on Drugs, alluding to increased drug use in younger generations as a means of escape. The second meaning, King Overdosed, refers to Cole’s personal “methods of escape, whether it be alcohol, phone addiction, [or] women,” explained the voice in the trailer. Lastly, “KOD” also stands for Kill our Demons, which urges society to “look in the mirror or look inside and ask ourselves what’s causing me to run to this thing as an escape,” concluded the trailer.

The intro, called Intro, serves as a sort of warning to listeners on coping with pain. Set to an airy jazz fusion tune, a female voice informs listeners that “there are many ways to deal with this pain” and repeatedly urges listeners to “choose wisely.”

These lines also appear later in the album on tracks like ATM and Once an Addict.

The second song on the album, “KOD,” excites listeners for the unique boldness that the rest bring with it’s bouncy beat.

The first verse addresses Cole’s notorious reputation for including little to no features on his albums with the lines “How come you won’t get a few features?/ I think you should? How ‘bout I don’t?/ How ‘bout you just the f*ck off my d*ck?/ How ‘bout you listen and never forget?” Cole’s bold individuality gives this song an air of confidence that further entices listeners.

The song also references Cole’s upbringing and the drugs he may have been around when he was younger, ultimately setting up the theme of Kids on Drugs for the rest of the album.

Cole’s only feature, a mysterious voice that goes by kiLL edward, appears on the tracks “The Cut Off” and “FRIENDS.” kiLL edward actually turns out to be Cole’s own voice slowed down, another bold move that only adds to his argument that he doesn’t need features to go platinum.

Though Cole aims to deal with issues he believes are prominent in our society, the album turns boring and repetitive by the fifth track, “ATM”, ultimately rendering his messages less impactful.

In “ATM”, Cole sounds as if he’s striving for originality, but falls painfully short as his song drips in obnoxiously repetitive and non original beats. The line “count it up, count it up, count it up, count it up,” appears a total of eighteen times throughout the song, enough to drive intelligent listeners crazy.

On the other hand, Cole’s song “Kevin’s Heart” redeems his message and gets listeners really thinking with introspective lyrics.

The song references actor and comedian Kevin Hart’s cheating scandal back in 2017. It presents a really powerful message on infidelity, continuing Cole’s themes of addiction and ‘choosing wisely’ when it comes to dicey decisions.

The standout song is accompanied with standout lines like “Love get confused in the mind of a child/ ‘Cause love wouldn’t like like I lie and it’s wild/ Wanna have my cake and another cake too”, which addresses Cole’s perception of modern day addiction to sex and cheating. The line “They tell

me ‘What’s done in the dark will find a way to shine’/ I done did so much that when you see you might to blind” brilliantly and creatively alludes to the idea that even things done privately will inevitably be exposed to the public.

Despite what you may think, Kevin Hart showed his support for the song by starring in its music video, one that doesn’t excuse Hart of his actions but encourages men to choose wisely.

“I thought it was dope,” Hart said to Vulture. “It wasn’t done from a hateful or spiteful place. It was done with a smart intent behind it, which I think a lot of Cole’s stuff is done.”

The twelfth and final song on the album, “1985- Intro to ‘The Fall Off’”, aims to warn young rappers of the vices of the rap world, most specifically, drugs. The song, which doubles as a reflection of Cole’s life (1985 references his birth year), warns young rappers that they’re on “a faster route to the bottom” with the “type of sh*t [they] rappin’ ‘bout”.

Cole brings the heat with extremely well thought out lyrics, but unfortunately comes off as a self-righteous rapper that’s trying to impart his wisdom on a generation he looks down on. Cole tries to keep it classy and supportive with the line “I wish you good luck” but immediately destroys his intent with lines like “I’m hoping for your sake that you ain’t as dumb as you look”, ultimately turning the song into a petty diss track on a group of rappers that are too young to know any better.

Though no names are mentioned in the song, it’s largely believed that it’s a response to seventeen year old rap star, Lil Pump’s unreleased and wildly unimaginative song, f*ck J. Cole.

PHOTO VIA FLICKR

Though Cole tries to explain to rappers like Lil Pump why he believes their fame won’t last in the verse “But have you ever thought about your impact?/ These white kids love that you don’t give a f*ck/ ‘Cause that’s exactly what’s expected when your skin black/ They wanna see you dab, they wanna see you pop a pill/ They wanna see you tatted from your face to your heels/ And somewhere deep down, f*ck it, I gotta keep it real/ They wanna be black and think your song is how it feels,” he ultimately takes on a condescending, holier-than-thou tone with lines like “Come here lil’ man, let me talk with ya/ See if I can paint for you the large picture.”

The album deals with pain in a creative way, but loses its impact and strokes of originality in tacky trap beats and jarring repetition, just falling short of the incredible potential it could have had.

K.O.D. J.COLE

Raw fish rolled fresh Kura Sushi circulates the conveyer belt sushi trend into the South Bay

PHOTO BY BEN CHENG

by Jenna Edwards Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in Torrance introduces a new take on the average sushi dine-in experience with a concept new to the U.S. : a conveyor belt running throughout the restaurant where everyone can access sushi at any booth.

Conveyor belt sushi is not a new idea in more trendy downtown LA areas, although it is less widely known of in smaller cities like Redondo. Luckily, Kura opened up in 2015 in Torrance and gave locals a taste of the unique idea nearby.

Kura takes the concept of authentic sushi and turns it into an innovative, hightech experience. In the small restaurant, there are six industrial-looking booths where on one side of each booth, there is a conveyor belt carrying little plates of sushi covered by protective domes.

Each plate consists of two or three pieces of sushi, depending on the kind it is, the price ranging from $2.50 to $2.75, also depending on the content.

Sushi that is known to be as more authentic, like nigiri, tends to cost more than the well-known sushi rolls that Kura offers, such as California rolls, caterpillar rolls and crunchy rolls.

The variety of sushi at Kura appeals to a wide range of people, since it is so diverse.

Everyone is bound to find something they’ll like.

The sushi itself seemed very high quality, with top notch local fish and fresh rice.

All of the rolls had nice blends of flavor, varying from spicy to savory to sweet. It tasted both authentic and flavorful without being overpoweringly seafood based.

A quality unique to Kura is the ability to portion control what you want to eat. In normal restaurants, there is a determined portion of food that everyone is given, which is sometimes way too much, causing leftovers or the consumer being overly full.

While the main idea of Kura is to serve yourself, there are other options to which

you can order food. There are plenty of servers around to get drink orders, and you can also order sushi rolls from them. Although the more unique way of ordering is by conveyerbelt, there is a small tablet above the table where consumers can use the touch screen to order more food, which arrives on yet another conveyor belt that is just above the revolving one.

Often times, consumers resort to the touch screen tablet to order when the specific item they want is not available at the conveyor belt. There are only three to four plates of the same sushi per each type running on the conveyor belt, so they run out rather quickly. If the chefs are not able to make them quick enough, then people use the tablet to order what they want.

Kura’s food options don’t only include sushi. They also offer different, authentic Japanese cuisine such as miso soup, tempura, udon soup and seafood, which can all be ordered only on the touch screen.

Kura’s conveyor belt usually contains some out-of-place foods that don’t seem fitting to a sushi restaurant, including “New York” cheesecake, watermelon cubes, and pineapple.

Since Kura is such a popular place to go to have a quick snack or a dine-in lunch, it’s understandable that the small restaurant easily gets crowded. Many people complain that the wait is too long, getting up to an hour at some times. Fortunately, Kura tries to adapt to this inconvenience by providing a line of chairs outside so that people can wait comfortably.

As long as you are willing to wait for a little while, Kura is a super enjoyable place to grab some delicious sushi in a fresh, entertaining way.

KURA

TORRANCE

3

OCT. 6, 2017 | HIGH TIDE

SPORTS

18

Softball to play Peninsula

by Michael Solimando Girls softball looks ahead to Friday’s away game at Peninsula High School at 3:15 pm, coming off two big back to back wins against Inglewood High School. The Seahawks will be coming into the game with an overall record of 10-13 (5-2 Bay League), while the Panthers will be coming in with a record of 9-13 (3-3 Bay League).

The Seahawks will try to keep their two-game winning streak alive after 23-0 and 16-0 victories against Inglewood earlier this week.

Senior Sophie Shipley described where she thinks her team is at this point in the season.

“Although we got off to a little rocky start, I think our team is really coming together, and I think if we continue to work hard in practice, we will hopefully win Bay League,” she said.

Shipley emphasized how much better their team chemistry is now than it was at the beginning of the season. Senior Mckenna Zayas shared how she feels ahead of the game against Peninsula on Friday.

“I feel good. Even though we lost to Palos Verdes and Mira Costa, I feel like we have a solid chance of winning the rest of our Bay League schedule if we stick together as a team and play aggressively like the way I know we can” she said.

Even though the team is 10-13, Zayas knows they can be better because “[their] record does not represent who [they] are as a team or show the battle that [they] put up every game against [their] competitors.”

On Friday, May 4th at 3:15 pm at Peninsula High School, the grass will be cut, the dirt will be dragged and the girls will be ready to play ball as the Seahawks will take on the Panthers, this time on the Panther’s home turf.

Queen of diamonds. Girls softball beats Penn as the team advances to CIF. PHOTO BY E. J. DOMINGO

Setting the record straight

Girls lacrosse advances in CIF after beating Newbury

by Kiera Patterson

G

irls varsity lacrosse finished off league with a 19-3 win against Peninsula earning themselves a 6-1 record in League. They continued their winning streak in their first CIF game against Newbury Park with a 23-15 win.

“We were successful this season because we always came together when we needed to most. Whether it was to win the draw, score goal after goal or shut everything down

Going all in. Girls lacrosse set a 6-1 record in League and hopes to become CIF Champions. PHOTO BY JADE RONA

on defense, this team was always willing to put in their all and dominate the field. I am so proud of how our season has gone, and I can’t wait to hear what this group of girls does next year,” said senior captain Lisa Diethelm.

The team has had a very successful season with a 15-3 record, and they look to continue their run to become CIF Champions. A huge factor in this successful season has been the friendships they have created that benefit them greatly on and off the field.

“As the year went on they really helped me to keep my head up when I wasn’t doing the best or if I dropped the ball. Especially some of the girls that talked to me from the very beginning making sure I was included really helped keep my confidence and my sense of belonging up as well. Along with making me an overall better player,” said freshman Jordan Davis.

As the girls played their last league game the emotions were running high, knowing that they would still be playing in CIF together.

“My last game was bittersweet. We won, but around halftime, it hit me that this was my last season. I have had an amazing journey with this program, and I will miss it,” said Diethelm.

The girls, for now, are focusing on another win to continue their successful season, but for later seasons they are looking to keep this success up.

“Not a lot of us are graduating, so I know my team will go far. They should just keep playing their game and holding their heads high because I know they will be successful,” Diethelm said.

SPORTS

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

19

Making a splash. Ina Gorodo swims the butterfly stroke in a meet. PHOTO BY EJ DOMINGO

After losing to Mira Costa, girls swim to focus on team relations

by Yasmine Elahihaghighi Holding on to their last win against Peninsula, RUHS swim hoped to defeat Costa in their meet last Thursday, but fell short.

The team has had increasing issues this season and was unable to fix them all in time to be in their best shape.

“A major challenge for us every time has been all the injuries and illnesses this season. We had swimmers out every week being unable to compete in the meets,” junior Kiana Hamada said. “If we do not have everyone racing, we lose a lot of points from that, and it starts to add up and really hurt the team.”

According to senior Camille Grace, another issue this season has been the low attendance at practices.

“Not everyone shows up to practice sometimes, so that makes it a lot harder to actually improve if people are deciding not to come,” Grace said.

The swimmers have difficulty connect-

ing with one another, further hurting their ability to compete.

“We have our own separate friend groups, which is okay, but some people do not know others even if they are on the same team. It is the end of the season, so that is an issue,” Hamada said.

To fix this issue, the team is trying to hold more team bondings before every race so they can get closer to each other.

“We try to work on our bonding mainly by having team dinners. We all gather up at someone’s house and have a meal together the night before,” Hamada said. “It has been really helpful for us, and we have started to become closer and closer.”

During meets, the swimmers are negatively impacted by poor weather.

“We struggle to keep up the motivation to swim when it is super windy and cold.

It’s the worst when you have to swim but your entire body can not move,” Hamada

said.

Despite being overwhelmed, Hamada believes encouragement from teammates has helped the team during meets.

“Hearing your teammates screaming you on really does make a difference. One of our best moments of the season was our Peninsula vs. Redondo 200 free relay,” Hamada said. “We were behind by a few points but pushed each other, and winning that relay helped us win the whole meet.”

Coaches Shelby Haroldson and Skylar Elrich have a been “a big help this year” to each swimmer’s individual performance.

“They help swimmers visualize themselves in the pool and suggest strategies on how to perfect each lap. Personally, for longer events this really helps me do better in competition,” Hamada said.

To prepare for their meet against Costa, the team treated practice “like a meet itself.”

“We pushed each other in sets by try-

ing to compete with one another. At the end of practice we did sprints so that was a chance for us to race,” Grace said. “In preparation for the meet, we practiced constantly last week and had a team dinner so we could all be together before competition.”

When it came to the Costa meet, the team felt “unhappy” with their loss considering their work in practices.

“Our freshman did really well, but varsity was just not able to do the same. The Costa team had national and sectional level swimmers so that made it really difficult on us,” Hamada said.

Moving forward, swim is working on their level of focus at competitions.

“Our last meet is coming up, and the team really needs to focus on making sure they pay attention during races,” Hamada said. “There were a lot of times where someone did not know their event was going on and missed out, hurting the team.”

BOYS LACROSSE SCORES

May 2

Apr. 26

Apr. 24

10-2

10-5

9-4

Loss vs Valencia

Win vs Peninsula

Loss vs Costa

LAX to the Max. Senior Bryan Cloutier scores a

goal against Simi Valley, ending in a 16-4 win. PHOTO BY EJ DOMINGO

20

FEATURES

MAY 4, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

“

“

“

I’m super excited to work with the cabinet and everyone at this school.

- Akio Goto

”

I’m just excited to see what this dynamic has to offer for next school year.

“

”

- Tim Ludwig

“

I’m ready to innovate Redondo and work hard for next year.

”

- Malgy Blue

I want to take on more of a roll, and I think I am going to be good at managing activities.

- Hannah Hastings I want to make sure everyone has a super cool year, and I want to make it the best it can be.

”

“

”

- Skyler Romero

I plan to increase class spirit and ensure that everyone has a great senior year.

- Grace Yagi

”

Senior Cabinet Secretary Treasurer: Hannah Hastings President: Skylar Romero Vice President: Grace Yagi

ASB Cabinet

“

Secretary Treasurer: Akio Goto President: Tim Ludwig Vice President: Malgy Blue

“

I had experience as Freshman and Sophomore Class President and I want to rasie a lot of money for our junior year events.

”

- Hannah Hiken

“

“

I want to fundraise a lot of money so that we have an awesome senior year. Go ‘21!

- Max Imberechta

I just want to get people around our school much more involved. Go class of‘21!

- Kennedy East

”

“

I just want to help support our class of ‘21.

”

I wanted this positiion to raise a lot of money for our class next year and also to help increase our class spirit.

”

- Natalie Coan

Junior Cabinet President: Hannah Hiken Secretary Treasurer: Natalie Coan

Vice President: Kiara LaGumina PHOTOS BY EDEN MILLAN

Sophomore Cabinet

President: Max Imberechts Vice President: Kennedy

East

Secretary Treasurer: Shrey Ghai

”

- Shrey Ghai